Sweden’s development aid minister Benjamin Dousa (Moderate Party) reacts sharply to reports that Israel plans to annex parts of the Gaza Strip with support from US President Donald Trump. According to Israeli media, the plans are to be presented if Hamas does not release its hostages.
According to reports in Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing an annexation plan that would receive American support. The Swedish government strongly distances itself from these plans.
— We strongly condemn any potential plans to annex Palestinian territory. This would clearly violate international law, Dousa tells Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet.
The development aid minister also criticizes American support for the annexation and believes it would have devastating international consequences. He describes how the Israeli government has “radicalized during the spring and summer” in an unexpected way.
Criticism of humanitarian situation
The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza also draws strong criticism from Dousa. Reports of mass starvation have reached Sweden, and the development aid minister accuses Israel of not living up to international humanitarian principles.
— It is obvious that Israel is not living up to international humanitarian principles. They are letting in too little humanitarian aid, he says.
Dousa describes the handling as a “complete logistical disaster”, pointing to chaotic scenes with injuries and deaths as a result of Israel’s actions.
Sweden has summoned the Israeli ambassador and is pushing for EU sanctions against violent settlers in the West Bank. The government is also open to supporting international initiatives for airlifts to Gaza, but prefers truck transport via the UN for larger volumes.
— The homes of Gaza residents belong to Gaza residents. It is not up to Israel or the USA to redraw the map as they please, Dousa emphasizes.
Facts about annexation and international law
International law prohibits the annexation of another country's territory. According to international law, annexation means that a state takes control over another state's territory through violence or coercion, which is an illegal act that must not be recognized by other states. This is seen as a "flagrant violation of international law", and there is no legal provision that justifies such annexation.
The UN Charter, which forms a fundamental part of international law, protects states' territorial integrity and political independence through prohibitions against acts of aggression and intervention in other states' internal affairs (articles 2.4 and 2.7). These principles mean that a state may not interfere in how another state is governed or take control over its territory.
